We spoke to UON Bears head coach Matt Wainwright ahead of the start of the 23/24 BUCS season.
You had a successful season last year, winning both Varsity and Cross Codes, how do you reflect on last season?
“Yeah, last season was a massive success for us as a club.
“Our numbers rose significantly, and we got more boys playing at regular rugby outside of university for the first time in years and then obviously the big two cross codes and varsity and with cross codes at Franklin’s Gardens was pretty cool.
“As well the success last year I’m really happy that we have an excellent group coming back and have been recruiting really well for our freshers as well.”
Going into the season have you got any targets?
“In terms of us as a club, we’ll be a promotion club this season, so we’re going to go up and we’ll win our league and then hopefully bounce back and do the double of Varsity and Cross codes again.
“We’ve not lost varsity in two years, well, since I was a student there and then we’ve not lost Cross Codes in a few years now, so keep winning those and then promotion for us.”
Any players that we should be looking out for this season?
“In terms of our players, we’ve got two really good freshers come in like Ben and Laz and me and Evan as well, both scholars, they come in and then all of the old boys will be back before so Joe, Taylor and Oscar, all of the lads from last year are all back.
“So it’ll be really exciting to see the team and get started this season.”
Are any highlights from last season or since you’ve joined the role?
“I think last season we really looked a lot into player development and making the group of players better.
“Whereas this season we’re looking on top of overall player development and our performance, outcome, goals, so that getting promoted and winning a double Varsity and Cross codes.
“So, we are looking at what we can do as a club to make sure we’re in the best position to do all of those goals, but there is lots of learning from the last two years.
“It’s always going to be a challenge and with it being my first real role as a head coach with a program, there is lots of learning, but as long as we’re keeping it positive, we can work with this nice group of boys as we work to making people better at rugby, but better people as well.”
What’s your go to Meal Deal?
“I do quite a lot driving from place to place so it depends.
“I like to go on a bulk meal deal if I if I’ve got a lot going on, so I’ll get one of those the triple sandwiches like the all-day breakfast set.
Three sandwiches are good quality then I go for the meaty BBQ hula hoops and then an orange Lucozade for me, got to keep the energy up.”